Of the things that are in the waters, you may eat anything that has fins and scales. Sex is not seen as a necessary evil for the sole purpose of procreation. When a man buys his wife fine clothes and jewelry, he should have in mind that he is beautifying the Divine Presence, represented in this world by none other than his wife. "There will always be poor people in the land. Although the details of kashrut are extensive, the laws all derive from a few fairly simple, straightforward rules: Of the "beasts of the earth" (which basically refers to land mammals with the exception of swarming rodents), you may eat any animal that has cloven hooves and chews its cud. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation. Most butchers and all frozen food vendors take care of the salting for you, but you should always check this when you are buying someplace you are unfamiliar with. The submissiveness and self control we exhibit when we do what’s right and don’t allow our ego to get in our way, are what is sustaining the world. The scrolls are not directly touched … Many of the laws of kashrut have no known connection with health. Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. It's Orthodoxy. "Kashrut" comes from the Hebrew root Kaf-Shin-Resh, meaning fit, proper, or correct. The rabbis extended this prohibition to include not eating milk and poultry together. I'm supposed to say, Bill O'Reilly, that's immoral - click - and then walk back in and book his A block the next day and have a fine day and everything be kosher? Any land mammal that does not have both of these qualities is forbidden. Fish like tuna, carp, salmon, and herring are all permitted. “Hear O Israel, G‑d is our L‑rd, G‑d is One.” [ Deut. Leviticus 11,9; Deuteronomy 14,9. The symbols at right are all widely-accepted kashrut certifications commonly found on products throughout the United States. As mentioned above, shechitah allows for rapid draining of most of the blood. The short answer to why we observe these laws is: because the Torah says so. I mean, bacon - my father said, 'Don't put bacon in the house,' but we had bacon. This becomes a concern with many fruit drinks or fruit-flavored drinks, which are often sweetened with grape juice. In Jewish law, sex is not considered inherently shameful, sinful, or obscene. Likewise, you could use the same knife to slice cold cuts and cheese, as long as you clean it in between, but this is not really a recommended procedure, because it increases the likelihood of mistakes. For example, Jell-O brand gelatin puts a K on its product, even though almost every reliable Orthodox authority agrees that Jell-O is not kosher. The word Echod, אחד, meaning “one” is made up of three letters. The giving of the Torah is a story of God seeking to provide humanity with … I think it's about being healthy. You should use separate towels and pot holders for meat and dairy. But according to some people, it's about not eating this food because it's forbidden by the Jewish law. We were Orthodox Jews, but we really didn't deserve it. A kosher household will have at least two sets of pots, pans, and dishes: one for meat and one for dairy. Stove tops and sinks routinely become non-kosher utensils, because they routinely come in contact with both meat and dairy in the presence of heat. We didn't keep kosher or observe the Sabbath. Kashrut is the body of Jewish law dealing with what foods we can and cannot eat and how those foods must be prepared and eaten. Discover and share Quotes From The Jewish Torah. On three separate occasions, the Torah tells us not to "boil a kid in its mother's milk" (Exodus 23,19; Exodus 34,26; Deuteronomy 14,21). 4. In Israel, then, the official religion is not just Judaism. Routine laundering koshers such items, so you can simply launder them between using them for meat and dairy. All elements of religious life - from the kosher certification of food to conversion to marriages and burials - are controlled by the rabbinate. If you buy your meat at a kosher butcher and buy only kosher certified products at the market, the only thing you need to think about is the separation of meat and dairy. In smaller, more remote communities, the rabbi and the shochet were often the same person. Rabbi. May 1, 2012 - Inspirational quotes from the Torah, our Sages and Chassidic leaders. I wanted to photograph life, and here it was. In Israel, there is no civil marriage. The Torah specifies that the camel, the rock badger, the hare and the pig are not kosher because each lacks one of these two qualifications. All other kosher certification marks are trademarked and cannot be used without the permission of the certifying organization. If human language, with its logic, is the way God has given us to understand the world, then the Torah must be understood in that same language and with that same logic. It is also permissible to eat dairy and eggs together. Because it isn't. Traditional Ashkenazic Jewish foods like knishes, bagels, blintzes, and matzah ball soup can all be non-kosher if not prepared in accordance with Jewish law. It is a violation of Jewish law to neuter a pet. His answer: “To be kosher, you have to be kind not only to your own kind but to all.” That, I believe, is the peshat, or literal interpretation of our verse in Torah. In fact, ... 22 See Darkei Teshuvah 66:68 who quotes a dispute among the poskim as to … If it is meat, the word Meat or an M may appear near the symbol. The seemingly haphazard, random, and arbitrary events that comprise the story of our lives begin to form a coherent and purposeful narrative when we view them from a divine perspective. I want to be fully vegetarian anyway, though sometimes my mom makes chicken soup and I have to eat it. Many modern Jews think that the laws of kashrut are simply primitive health regulations that have become obsolete with modern methods of food preparation. This is because fatty residues and meat particles tend to cling to the mouth. The Torah does not specify any reason for these laws, and for a Torah-observant, traditional Jew, there is no need for any other reason. Sheep, cattle, goats, and deer are kosher. Attitude Towards Sexuality. Kosher is a bigger idea. If the product is dairy, it will frequently have a D or the word Dairy next to the kashrut symbol. An egg that contains a blood spot may not be eaten. I'm kosher except for times where I eat pork and shellfish. Discover and share Quotes From The Torah. In terms of keeping kosher, I've basically just been vegetarian. Food that is not kosher is commonly referred to as "treyf" (literally, torn, from the commandment not to eat animals that have been torn by other animals). If you are going to use a dishwasher in a kosher home, you either need to have separate dish racks or you need to run the dishwasher in between meat and dairy loads. Approximately 3/4 of all prepackaged foods have some kind of kosher certification, and most major brands have reliable Orthodox certification. If you would have asked me my favorite Yiddish word, I would have said bashert. Milk and eggs from kosher animals are kosher. In addition, it elevates the simple act of eating into a religious ritual. For birds, the criteria are less clear. Discover and share Disturbing Quotes From The Torah. simply primitive health regulations that have become obsolete with modern methods of food preparation He did well. They have to know the portion very well to avoid making mistakes. One of the things the practice does is make one more mindful of - and grateful for - what goes into your body. The method of slaughter is a quick, deep stroke across the throat with a perfectly sharp blade with no nicks or unevenness. The publication and distribution of A Taste of Torah are made possible by a generous grant from Sam and Marilee Susi. In addition, some of the health benefits to be derived from kashrut were not made obsolete by the refrigerator. Tattooing is an explicit prohibition from the Torah. Kosher salt, above and beyond everything. I'd been to South Africa during the Seventies, when it was definitely not kosher to go there. Dishwashers are a kashrut problem. I'm not a hypocrite; I state my positions. Utensils that have come into contact with meat may not be used with dairy, and vice versa. - … Keeping kosher only becomes difficult when you try to eat in a non-kosher restaurant, or at the home of a person who does not keep kosher. Imposing rules on what you can and cannot eat ingrains that kind of self control. … All blood must be drained from the meat or broiled out of it before it is eaten. I was drawn to street photography because there are pictures everywhere there: a woman holding a dog, a baby screaming to be put in a pram, kids playing punch ball, stores with huge barrels of kosher pickles outside. The Talmud says that a person should do two things for himself. Thus, it is necessary to remove all blood from the flesh of kosher animals. This is not very common, but one finds them once in a while. This applies only where the contact occurred while the food was hot. The processing and preparation of food can transform a kosher item into a non-kosher item. Of the animals that may be eaten, the birds and mammals must be slaughtered in accordance with Jewish law. David M. Freidenreich,, The Earliest Explanation for Kosher: Allegory in the Hellenistic World. This restriction includes the flesh, organs, eggs, and milk of the forbidden animals. So we made out we were Orthodox Jews, but we really weren't. It translates into the idea that Wiesel so beautifully captured as aphorism in my favorite quote. must also be kosher. However, health is not the only reason for Jewish dietary laws. Of them, it says, “You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses” (Leviticus 11:4-8). If it is pareve, the word Pareve (or Parev) may appear near the symbol (Not a P! It is becoming increasingly common for kosher certifying organizations to indicate whether the product is fleishig, milchig, or pareve. Grape products made by non-Jews may not be eaten or drunk. Level: Advanced. I was Jewish, through and through, although in our house that didn't mean a whole lot. For example, the laws regarding kosher slaughter are so sanitary that kosher butchers and slaughterhouses have been exempted from many USDA regulations. In certain circumstances, an animal can be kosher without being glatt; however, the stringency of keeping "glatt kosher" has become increasingly common in recent years. What is it to keep kosher? The word "kosher" can also be used, and often is used, to describe ritual objects that are made in accordance with Jewish law and are fit for ritual use. For example, there is some evidence that eating meat and dairy together interferes with digestion, and no modern food preparation technique reproduces the health benefit of the kosher law of eating them separately. The question was based upon a quote from the Talmud. Note that even the smallest quantity of dairy (or meat) in something renders it entirely dairy (or meat) for purposes of kashrut. | Fundamental Rules | Details | Forbidden Animals | Kosher slaughtering | Draining of blood | Fats & Nerves | Meat & Dairy | Utensils | Grape Products | Kashrut Certification. My mother's Puerto Rican and my father's Russian-Jewish, so we consider ourselves to be Jewricans or Puertojews. Thus, if you cook chicken soup in a saucepan, the pan becomes meat. As I mentioned above, the Torah tells us the characteristics of Kosher fish and mammals. I just love it. There are many other certifications available, of varying degrees of strictness. I think Puertojew sounds like a kosher bathroom, so I prefer Jewrican. The restrictions on grape products derive from the laws against using products of idolatry. 8 In this procedure, a trained kosher slaughterer (shochet) severs the trachea and esophagus of the animal with a special razor-sharp knife. “You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud” (Leviticus 11:3). A distaste for pigs, mice, and weasels? Animal fat is considered meat for purposes of kashrut. I keep kosher, so I have an element of consumption awareness embedded into my daily life. Leviticus 11,3; Deuternomy 14,6. For the most part, this rule only affects wine and grape juice. The same Torah that teaches us that the world stands in the merit of sacrifices also teaches us that the world stands on the merit of one who remains silent in an argument. Explore our collection of motivational and famous quotes by authors you know and love. There is no question that some of the dietary laws have some beneficial health effects. The problem is that borrowing money to pay back more borrowed money that will oblige you in the future to borrow even more money doesn't sound kosher. Got a question or comment? Thus, shellfish such as lobsters, oysters, shrimp, clams, and crabs are all forbidden. Please exercise appropriate discretion. 7 (Fish do not have this requirement.) Not keeping kosher as outlined in the Torah is a sin. A non-kosher (pasul) Torah, even if it can be corrected, does not receive the respect that a kosher one does. Utensils (pots, pans, plates, flatware, etc., etc.) But in those days, we belonged to an Orthodox temple. My mother was an awful cook, an exceptionally awful kosher cook, but I stayed kosher until I got to college, even though I'd long stopped believing in God. 6:4] The Shema teaches us that G‑d is One and that He is everywhere. The most controversial certification is the K, a plain letter K found on products asserted to be kosher. My view of the halachah changed a little bit. I could live on challah bread, the Jewish kosher bread, quite happily. Some have suggested that the laws of kashrut fall into the category of "chukkim", laws for which there is no reason. The mammals and birds that may be eaten must be slaughtered in accordance with Jewish law; "as I have commanded thee" (Deuteronomy 12,21) is according to the Oral Torah on kosher slaughter given to Moses at Sinai. Kosher salt, eggs and flour. These are the famous Torah quotes on love that may help with the loved ones in your life. Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. | How Difficult? You must either feed your pet something that contains no chametz (such as 100% beef dog food, kosher for Passover table scraps, or matzah meal to feed fish or rodents) or temporarily sell the pets to a non-Jew. (Whole grapes are not a problem, nor are whole grapes in fruit cocktail). When a restaurant calls itself "kosher-style", it usually means that the restaurant serves these traditional Jewish foods, and it almost invariably means that the food is not actually kosher. Chinese food can be kosher if it is prepared in accordance with Jewish law, and there are many fine kosher Chinese restaurants in Philadelphia and New York. I certainly don't live in a kosher home although I was raised in a kosher environment. For rave-worthy soups, skip the store-bought stock. - Talmud (Jewish Wisdom) Besides being from a kosher species, kosher meat requires that the animal/bird be slaughtered in the manner prescribed by the Torah (Shechita). The Torah prohibits consumption of blood. A utensil picks up the kosher "status" (meat, dairy, pareve, or treyf) of the food that is cooked in it or eaten off of it, and transmits that status back to the next food that is cooked in it or eaten off of it. You may also notice that it is virtually impossible to find kosher baking powder, because baking powder is made with cream of tartar, a by-product of wine making. For this reason, use of wines and other grape products made by non-Jews was prohibited. Certain parts of permitted animals may not be eaten. In several places the Torah warns against the ancient practice of eating the blood of animals, ... A blood spot in an egg is not kosher and could possibly render the entire egg not kosher. The certifying organization stands behind the kashrut of the product. ~~ Mekhilta (Midrashic Proverb) 1. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land." Kosher Sex. Explore our collection of motivational and famous quotes by authors you know and love. May you find great value in these inspirational Torah Quotes from my large datebase of inspiring quotes and sayings. All of the birds on the list are birds of prey or scavengers, thus the rabbis inferred that this was the basis for the distinction. With a little practice, it is very easy to spot these marks on food labels, usually near the product name, occasionally near the list of ingredients. This is a classic use of taking a small portion of scripture and pulling it out of context to help justify a false doctrine that is not supported by any of the other scriptures. Gribenes have been referred to as Jewish popcorn or kosher pork rinds. I don't think so. 4. It says the following: Hear, O israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Why Observe? The remaining blood must be removed by salting, and then either broiling or emersing the salted meat in boiling water till it whitens. This applies only to the blood of birds and mammals, not to fish blood. This is the only dietary law that has a reason specified in Torah: we do not eat blood because the life of the animal is contained in the blood. And we observed which today would be Conservative Jews. Ann Landers. Opinions differ, and vary from one or two to six hours. The process of removing this nerve is time consuming and not very cost-effective, so most kosher slaughterers simply sell the hind quarters to non-kosher butchers. I felt that the best thing to do was to be a missionary and tell people what was going on in their own country because censorship was so dreadful. In his book "To Be a Jew" (an excellent resource on traditional Judaism), Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin suggests that the dietary laws are designed as a call to holiness. Meat (the flesh of birds and mammals) cannot be eaten with dairy. It's basically chicken skin fried in schmaltz. Other birds are permitted, such as chicken, geese, ducks, and turkeys. This method is painless, causes unconsciousness within seconds, and is widely recognized as the most humane method of slaughter possible. Of the "winged swarming things" (winged insects), a few are specifically permitted (Leviticus 11,21). That means kosher for Passover!). The Torah lists forbidden birds (Leviticus 11,13-19; Deuteronomy 14,11-18), but does not specify why these particular birds are forbidden. We may not eat animals that died of natural causes (Deuteronomy 14,21) or that were killed by other animals (Exodus 22,30). I'm there all the time whenever I'm in town; that's my spot. The Torah specifies that the camel, the rock badger, the hare and the pig are not kosher because each lacks one of these two qualifications. The older I get the more I am astonished by its truth, both in a national as well as personal sense. Of the things that are in the waters, you may eat anything that has fins and scales. People who do not keep kosher often say how difficult it is. It is, however, permissible to eat fish and dairy together, and it is quite common. The laws are there hopefully to be a tool. It is necessary, therefore, to use dishpans when cleaning dishes (do not soak them directly in the sink) and to use separate spoon rests and trivets when putting things down on the stove top. email('kashrut'). Some commentators have pointed out, however, that this may well have been part of what God had in mind: to make it more difficult for us to socialize with those who do not share our religion. Meat was restricted by dietary laws. You can extract a cleaner, stronger broth from a combination of water and several pantry ingredients. I think it's about being healthy. [1] Dr. Note: This page addresses issues of Jewish law that may not be appropriate for younger readers. 15 quotes have been tagged as talmud: Chaim Potok: ‘Reuven listen to me. Cattle, sheep, goats, deer and bison are kosher. Explore our collection of motivational and famous quotes by authors you know and love. "A man’s every act begins with a dream and ends with one." BrainyQuote has been providing inspirational quotes since 2001 to our worldwide community. My view of the halachah changed a little bit. The key word is “and,” for Leviticus 11 continues to describe the animals that have one or another attribute, but not both at the same time, e.g., the camel, coney, rabbit, and pig. My maternal grandfather owned a grocery store that also sold kosher meat. These are the building blocks of everything. However, those who violate this prohibition may be buried in a Jewish cemetery and participate fully in all synagogue ritual. David Novak. To the best of our modern scientific knowledge, there is no reason why camel or rabbit meat (both treyf) is any less healthy than cow or goat meat. Liver may only be koshered by the broiling method, because it has so much blood in it and such complex blood vessels. We never went to synagogue. In the Ketubah, the marriage contract between husband and wife, many people have the custom of including the verse (Proverbs 18:22), “He who finds a wife has found good, and earns the favor of G‑d.” A good marriage is the vessel for bringing G‑d’s blessings into our lives. This leaves the sheep, go… Leviticus 7,26-27; Leviticus 17,10-14. There are kosher-certified wines available from France, Italy, Argentina, Spain, Australia, and the US, to name a few -- in all of those cases, there are Jews located there, making sure it's kosher. The first step in this process occurs at the time of slaughter. Kosher is not a style of cooking. According to some views, it is not permissible to eat meat and fish together, but we are not certain of the reason for that restriction (it has been attributed to medical opinion in the Middle Ages, for example). The Yiddish words fleishig (meat), milchig (dairy), and pareve (neutral) are commonly used to describe food or utensils that fall into one of those categories. The shochet is not simply a butcher; he must be a pious man, well-trained in Jewish law, particularly as it relates to kashrut. Ritual slaughter is known as shechitah, and the person who performs the slaughter is called a shochet, both from the Hebrew root Shin-Chet-Tet, meaning to slaughter. They're crispy and mixed with fried onions. It's all about layering powerful flavor-enhancers that you probably already have on hand - bacon, tomato paste, herbs, peppercorns, a Parm rind, and, of course, kosher salt. Is it eating kosher potato chips? While no sanctions are imposed, the practice should continue to be discouraged as a violation of the Torah. Leviticus 11,9; Deuteronomy 14,9. If you want to catch trout, don't fish in a herring barrel. Certain animals may not be eaten at all. In those situations, your lack of knowledge about your host's ingredients and the food preparation techniques make it very difficult to keep kosher. In San Francisco, I eat halal, which is kind of like Muslim kosher, and there's this one Thai restaurant, and it's right next to the 'Great American Hall'. I never had a Bar Mitzvah. See Utensils below for more details. Of the things that are in the waters, you may eat anything that has fins and scales. In fact, I'm not so sure I would have known what the Sabbath looked like if it passed me on the street, so how could I observe it? From dairy to meat, however, one need only rinse one's mouth and eat a neutral solid like bread, unless the dairy product in question is also of a type that tends to stick in the mouth. The reading is conducted using an ancient tune and is sung rather than spoken. In addition, the animal must have no disease or flaws in the organs at the time of slaughter. If no such clarification appears, you should read the ingredient list carefully to determine whether the product is meat, dairy, or pareve. You should read the ingredients very carefully, even if the product is kosher-certified. Sheep, cattle, goats, and deer are kosher. I'm telling you, when you have it with chopped liver, it's the most incredible thing because you get this crunch and this surge of chicken flavor. For example, most margarines are dairy for kosher purposes, because they contain a small quantity of whey or other dairy products to give it a dairy-like taste. Certain kinds of utensils can be "koshered" if you make a mistake and use it with both meat and dairy. It is the same root as the more commonly known word "kosher", which describes food that meets these standards. The Torah specifies that the camel, the rock badger, the hare and the pig are not kosher because each lacks one of these two qualifications. But according to some people, it's about not eating this food because it's forbidden by the Jewish law. I was kosher until I had my Bar Mitzvah, and I parlayed officially becoming a man into telling my father I wanted to eat cheeseburgers. This separation includes not only the foods themselves, but the utensils, pots and pans with which they are cooked, the plates and flatware from which they are eaten, the dishwashers or dishpans in which they are cleaned, and the towels on which they are dried. Modern scientists have found biochemical differences between this type of fat and the permissible fat around the muscles and under the skin. Some authorities require a post-mortem examination of the lungs of cattle, to determine whether the lungs are free from adhesions. Consult a rabbi for guidance if this situation occurs. ~~ Theodore Herzl. Rennet, an enzyme used to harden cheese, is often obtained from non-kosher animals, thus kosher hard cheese can be difficult to find. The Jewish dinner table is often compared to the Temple altar in rabbinic literature. 6:4–7. As we shall see below, the basic underlying rules are fairly simple. Others, however, have tried to ascertain God's reason for imposing these laws. This final process must be completed within 72 hours after slaughter, and before the meat is frozen or ground. These restrictions do not apply to fish, which may be merely "gathered" (Numbers 11,22). As long as you trust the certification, these are just as kosher as wine made in Israel (albeit they did not have the same tithing requirements). Kosher is a bigger idea. Utensils that have come into contact with non-kosher food may not be used with kosher food. If the lungs are free from such adhesions, the animal is deemed "glatt" (that is, "smooth"). Rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and insects (except as mentioned above) are all forbidden (Leviticus 11,29-30, 42-43). The kosher community tends to follow often several years behind the general societal trends. There is no such thing as "kosher-style" food. King Solomon’s Song of Songs is an allegory: the passionate love of a man and a woman mirrors the depth of the Jewish people’s relationship with the Divine. Generally speaking, birds of prey are not kosher. There is a very beautiful expression in the Hebrew language that's borrowed from spoken Torah... 'All is predicted, and permission is given at any point to change anything.'. We didn't keep kosher. "Every beginning is difficult." If you thereafter use the same saucepan to heat up some warm milk, the fleishig status of the pan is transmitted to the milk, and the milchig status of the milk is transmitted to the pan, making both the pan and the milk a forbidden mixture. Inexpensive and forgiving, kosher salt is fantastic for everyday cooking and tastes pure. Fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and grains can be eaten with either meat or dairy. Eggs must generally be checked to ensure they do not contain blood, which is not kosher. It is a good idea to break an egg into a container and check it before you put it into a heated pan, because if you put a blood-stained egg into a heated pan, the pan becomes non-kosher. Inspirational Jewish Quotes Torah Quotes - BrainyQuote. Another advantage of shechitah is that ensures rapid, complete draining of the blood, which is also necessary to render the meat kosher. The School of R. Ariel B. Tzadok Teaching the Bible & Orthodox Judaism, The original, Biblical Kabbalah, & Prophetic Meditation We emphasize personal, spiritual experience over … The Torah prohibits castrating males of any The task of keeping kosher is greatly simplified by widespread kashrut certification. Since the list of non-Kosher birds is limited to twenty-four species, the Torah simply provides the list, without the characteristics. That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. One must wait a significant amount of time between eating meat and dairy. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Specific kosher bird species are listed in the Torah, but there is more ambiguity about the requirements a bird must meet to be considered kosher. Although my grandmother was a strict parent and abided my grandfather's kosher diet, as a Nana, she had grown away from religion and was almost unbelievably permissive. Actually, keeping kosher is not particularly difficult in and of itself; what makes it difficult to keep kosher is that the rest of the world does not do so.